Has anyone noticed anything peculiar about the new start menu?

Catnip · Feb 23, 2026

I've been noticing some weird things since I got the new start menu. I like it, but it is doing some strange things:

1. Often reverts to a different display theme. It goes from List to Category quite frequently.
2. Often, choosing an app or program results in a different program loading than I asked to load, with the loaded program being higher on the list than the program I wanted to load.
3. If the entry is a folder, clicking on it opens the folder and shows icons. These icons are changing places all the time. The order of them is all over the place. and is different every time I open the folder.

Like I said, I like it, it just has some weirdness.

FrancoDT · Feb 23, 2026

I haven't had any of those issues. Have you tried restarting the Start menu and/or resetting the Start menu cache? (Latter will wipe your pinned apps though)

Ghot · Feb 23, 2026

@Catnip

If you want to revert to the old Win 11 Start Menu... @garlin has a registry patch for that.
You can find it here...

How to revert to old Start Menu without using third party tools?

The new Start Menu forced itself today on my PC, and it wouldn't disappear even after consecutive restarts. I would like to revert it without using third party tools, as those tools usually do more than just revert a setting and I don't want that (Windows 11 is so prone to files...

www.elevenforum.com

joeandmarg0 · Feb 23, 2026

Have you checked through ---Settings>Personalization and both Start and Taskbar for the selections in each one ?

Catnip · Feb 25, 2026

joeandmarg0 said:
Have you checked through ---Settings>Personalization and both Start and Taskbar for the selections in each one ?

I checked everything, thinking that I had messed up a setting. All seems right. I have also tried resetting the Start menu. No luck.

It's not really a big deal, it's just acting weird.

gi1ol · Feb 25, 2026

Yes. I have seen similar or exactly what you describe regarding a start menu selection. Your description, I know it's hard to precisely paint, prompted me to respond because I was at a loss. Thank you reaching out to this outstanding forum.

I click a start menu icon and a different program runs. The program that runs seems to be below in the alphabetized start menu grid? That's a little different from you.

I have Remove_Category_view_in_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg, and Disable_Show_more_options_context_menu.reg applied to this system.

I'm not on the computer too much anymore but definitely have noticed what you describe. It seems to occur during a session at the first program launch from the start menu. I don't think I've seen it repeat after the initial deviation. Recently, I have slowed my mouse dclick and pointer movement speed. But no firm results to pass on yet. I've been around since DOS/Dosshell 4.0 running programs from batch files, xtreegold teaching me the file system, and my 16mhz sx386 that cost as much as a used car. I just usually lurk in the background these days.

25H2 26200.7840 here

Winuser · Feb 25, 2026

I've had a different program open a couple of times. I've also have had programs not starting and have to click on it again. Until I read this post I thought it was me not clicking right.

QuicktellPro · Feb 26, 2026

I use Open-Shell because it retains the original Windows 7 style. I can still open the Windows 11 menu by tapping on the Windows key. Obviously, I have not come across any of the errors you mentioned because all programs are launched from the Open-Shell menu. The only thing I will say is I dislike the new design and much prefer the Windows 10 version. It's a shame that MS continually attempts to fix that which worked perfectly against their customers wishes.

cognus · Feb 26, 2026

Catnip said:
I've been noticing some weird things since I got the new start menu. I like it, but it is doing some strange things:

1. Often reverts to a different display theme. It goes from List to Category quite frequently.
2. Often, choosing an app or program results in a different program loading than I asked to load, with the loaded program being higher on the list than the program I wanted to load.
3. If the entry is a folder, clicking on it opens the folder and shows icons. These icons are changing places all the time. The order of them is all over the place. and is different every time I open the folder.

Like I said, I like it, it just has some weirdness.

i notice the crawling/relocating icons. also noticed that when I needed to delete a user account I only used temporarily, but at admin level. the process hung. showed the control panel window where the deed was executed, blacked out hourglass, creeping progress bar that never finished, not sure of the trash left behind in Users folder. had to finally force shutdown to get the thing out of the way, could not locate in task manager

Catnip · Feb 26, 2026

Well, I guess i am glad I am not alone in this. I thought I was going crazy or doing something wrong.

I found that slowing down the scrolling in the apps list mitigates the problem of the wrong program opening (most of the time). However, the issues of the display method changing periodically and the the icons moving around inside the chosen folders are still there. You kinda have to be careful what icon you are clicking on. I launched an uninstaller by mistake and it borked the program somehow. I reinstalled, no biggie, but the problem could be more serious if something a bit more invasive or important became messed up, perhaps leading to data loss.

Someone probably has complained to MS already. Maybe they will address it in an upcoming update, where they are sure to break something else.

garioch7 · Feb 26, 2026

I am with @Catnip on this new Start Menu. I thought I was going crazy too. It hit my laptop last Friday, and finally whacked my desktop today.

I can't say as I like it, but I am going to leave it alone for awhile, and see if I can get used to it.

I always wonder when you start tweaking the registry keys if Windows will just revert them with some monthly or version update, so I am going to see what happens. Perhaps, MS might fix it back ...

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

joeandmarg0 · Feb 26, 2026

Try cleaning Win 11.
Go to Task Manager>Startup Apps and disable all third party programmes,then shutdown and Power off.
After a minute,restart and in Terminal [admin ] type in ---dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and run it.
When completed,type in ---sfc /scannow and run it until a clean report is given.
If this solves the problem,then restore the disabled programmes ,one at a time to check if it was the cause.
It is preferable to keep auto-starting programmes to a minimum.

deadfoot13 · Feb 27, 2026

I am having the same issues -- I have Start set up to view as a list, but sometimes when I make a selection the menu turns into the keyboard pattern (letters/numbers), or it will open a different random app or folder. It's incredibly annoying, especially if the newly opened app decides it wants to update.

I contacted Microsoft help, none of the fixes they took me through made any difference.

My only option has been to workaround the Start menu by putting shortcuts all over my desktop. Completely inefficient and tedious, but at least I don't shoot myself in the foot by accidentally opening a resource hog that sidelines me even further.

Ghot · Feb 27, 2026

deadfoot13 said:
I am having the same issues

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QuicktellPro · Feb 28, 2026

deadfoot13 said:
My only option has been to workaround the Start menu by putting shortcuts all over my desktop. Completely inefficient and tedious, but at least I don't shoot myself in the foot by accidentally opening a resource hog that sidelines me even further.

In addition to what Ghot recommended, I suggest you take a look at Winstep Nexus, a tool that hides your shortcuts until you move your cursor to one edge of the screen. In my case, I have it set to the bottom of the screen so it operates like a Macintosh. Once you click on one of the icons, the program launches and all the icons descend off screen again.

Edwin · Feb 28, 2026

I had one chance to try the new menu. I clicked on a folder, in Group View, or whatever it's called, expecting it to expand the folder, but it opened an app.
That was enough for me to ditch it!

Winuser · Feb 28, 2026

Edwin said:
I had one chance to try the new menu. I clicked on a folder, in Group View, or whatever it's called, expecting it to expand the folder, but it opened an app.
That was enough for me to ditch it!

When set to view Category mode the mouse pointer needs to be on a blank spot. For most of the programs I use I prefer to just start typing the name of the program. I actually have two Start Menus. One when I do a right button click and one when I do a middle button click. As I recall it's because I'm using SAB.

Edwin · Feb 28, 2026

Winuser said:
... the mouse pointer needs to be on a blank spot.

Completely clumsy and stupid! A Whac-A-Mole Start Menu! Gotta love it! :facepalm:

Back to basics, please!

elbmek · Feb 28, 2026

I am getting icons on the bottom of my start menu which I have not asked for they are copies of icons on my desktop. I clicked on LIST and its an exact copy of my 'See all' button in start menu????

Went into personalise and start, all are 'OFF'

Some programmes in the Show list, are annotted 'New' but they are years old????

UPDATE: I have just installed open shell, from maj geeks, and I now have the old style start menu with a button on the top for the Win 11 menu. The old 'new' start menu is fully customisable

Winuser · Feb 28, 2026

Edwin said:
Completely clumsy and stupid! A Whac-A-Mole Start Menu! Gotta love it!

On a brighter side, I see MS is getting back into the new Emoji mode again. :think:

Has anyone noticed anything peculiar about the new start menu?

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